Gas-distributing system.



G. I. SCHMIDT.

GAS DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.13, 1913.

Patented May 5,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. WITNESSES: f0 jJ/MZZ M COLUIIIA 50-. "Ail "NON", IL L'- G. P. SCHMIDT.

GAS DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1a, 1913.

1,095,424. Patented May 5,1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, ram.

Application filed August 13, 1913. Serial No. 784,653.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE F. SCHMIDT, at present residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Distributing Systems, of which the following is a specification.

In systemsof gas distribution, the gaseous "fluid is usually forced into the distributing mains by pumps or blowers.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved means for regulating the pressure in the system and the amount of the gaseous fluid distributed through the main proportionate to the amount of the gaseous fluid used or withdrawn from the main, without varying the action of the pump or blower, so that the latter may run at a constant speed.

Another object of my present invention is the provision, in a gas distributing system, of an improved means adapted for increas ing either the pressure of the gas or the air when needed, to thereby increase the brilliancy and uniformity, as well as economy of incandescent gas mantle lights to the highest point and to also obtain a more perfect combustion than has heretofore been accomplished.

lVith other objects in view that will be hereinafter explained, my invention comprehends the peculiar construction and novel arrangement of parts, all of which will be first described in detail, specifically pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a. vertical section of my invention, parts being shown in side elevation, the direction of the flow of the gaseous fluid when under normal conditions being indicated by the arrows. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my invention, one of the by pass connections and parts of the compression chamber and the suction tank being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the pressure regulating valve mechanism. Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the said pressure regulating or controlling valve devices shown on the line 55 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail cross section of the tension bearing for the weighted lever of the pressure regulating, devices, taken on the line 66 on Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sect-ion of parts taken on the line 77 on Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the cap piece that forms a part of the pressure regulating valve casing.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tank 1, preferably of the shape shown in Figsl and 2,and composed of an upper and a lower section having flanged coupling portions 10. V

2 designates a horizontal diaphragm secured between the coupling portions 10 and which divides the tank into two chambers, an upper, hereinafter termed the compression chamber 3, and a lower, hereinafter.

called the suction tank 4.

5 designates an infeed pipe to the tank 4 which has a lead that joins with the carbureter of the gas producing machine which may be of any approved construction, for example, of that type shown in my copending application Serial No. 640,420, filed July 7, 1911.

(5 designates the valve controlled gas intake mounted on the infeed pipe 5.

7 designates a hand-hole for the tank 4.

A standard 8 is supported on top of the tank on which is mounted a rotary compressor 9, whose chamber 90 at one side connects with a pipe 11 that joins with the suction chamber 4. It will be noticed, by referring to Fig. 1, the pipe or bypass 11 includes a coupling member 12 with which connects an overhead bypass or pipe 13, that leads to the regulating valve casing 14, which latter includes a pendent pipe section 15 that communicates with an ofitake pipe 16 which communicates with the compressor 9 at a point diametrically opposite the infeed pipe 11. Pipe 16 also connects with an opening 17 in the top of the chamher 3, as shown.

18 designates the main outlet from the compression tank through which the gaseous fluid under compression discharges into the 1 main distributing pipe 19.

By reason of the peculiar arrangement of the parts, so far as described, in operation the rotary compressor traveling in the direction of the arrow it creates a suction in the tank 4 and draws into the said tank the gaseous fluid which passes out through the by-pass or lead 11 to the rotary compressor chamber where it is acted upon by the rotor 11 and is forced down into the compression chamber 3 from whence it passes into the main distributing pipe. During the aforesaid operation the circulation or course of the gaseous fluid drawn from the gas products continues as stated, until the accumulated gas in the chamber 3 is under a compression greater than that in the mains or distributing pipes. When such conditions occur in my improved system of distributing gaseous fluid, the said conditions are automatically adjusted and a uniform compression and feeding of the fluid is maintained through the action of my improved construction of regulating valve which I shall now proceed to describe in detail.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, of the drawings, it will be noticed the valve casing 14 has a seat 20 for the pendent annular flange of the slide valve 21 having passages 22 through which the fluid circulates when the valve is lifted off the seat, as shown in the said Figs. 3 and 5. Valve 21 includes a stem 23 that rides; through the bore 24 of the casing cap piece 25, the said stem having a number of lubricating grooves 26 fed from the oil cup 27, as shown. Valve 21 is normally held to its seat by the adjustable weight 28 on the holddown lever 29 fulcrumed at 30 and arranged to rest on the upper end of the stem 23. To avoid a too sudden shifting of the lever 29, should the gas pressure suddenly drop, I have provided a means for retarding the quick rise or fall of the said lever, the construction of which is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 7, and the same includes a plug 32 held in a socket 33 that projects laterally from the cap piece 25. 34 is a spring that normally forces the plug 32 to frictionally engage the lever, see Fig. 6, and 35 designates an adjusting screw for regulating the tension of the said spring. 36 designates a bypass or connection between the suction tank and the compression chamber and the said connection includes a controlling valve device, the valve member 37 of which is held down to its seat by the helical spring 38, an adjusting screw 39 being provided for raising the valve 37 should it become stuck in its seat. By providing the by-pass connection 36, a simple and effective means is provided for leading oflt the gaseous fluid directly from the suction tank into the upper of compression chamber and direct to the main distributing pipe under a normal pressure, when conditions are such that such a distribution of the gaseous fluid from the generator is desirable, it being understood that when the fluid is distributed in the manner last stated the rotary com pressor is cut out and it, at the same time serves to cut oil communication between the upper and lower chamber of the tank through the compressor. 40 designates a supplemental by-pass connection between the suction and compression chambers to which is joined a single line distributing pipe 41 that connects with the bypass through a valved casing 42, the valve 43 of which normally is held closed by a spring, (see dotted lines on Fig. 2) and is opened under the pressure of the fluid that passes ott directly from the suction tank into the compression chamber. The supplemental by-pass may be in open communication with the by-pass 36 as the latter is leading the gas to the main distributing pipe, or it may be cut out of such connection by the valve 45, or it may be held in open communication with the suction tank when the bypass 36 is closed off by the valve 46. Both by-passes having check valves 3743, as before described are normally closed by the pressure above when the compressor is running and open automatically when the pres sure drops. Bypass 36, which has a cutolf cook 46 above the check valve 37 serves the purpose of connecting the high pressure and suction tanks together. By-pass 40 acts in practically the same manner as by-pass 36 and also acts as a discharge for either high pressure or low pressure gas. When valve 45 is open and the compressor running, the check valve 43 is closed and high pressure gas is being discharged into pipe 41, as well as into main 19. Upon closing valve 45 the low pressure gas lifts valve 43 and discharges into pipe 41. This means is a very important feature in case a series of high and low pressure lamps are in use i on the same route, the use of supplemental lines 41 also permitting the distribution of low pressure gas for use as pilot lighters in co-action with high pressure lamps.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the drawings, the complete construction and operation of my present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which my said invention relates.

By reason of the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, particularly the manner in which the by-passes are arranged with relation to the rotary compressor or pump, a simple and effective means is provided for deflecting the path or direction of the fluid, as it comes from the gas producer under normal conditions since the compressor being mechanically driven, when it is at restforms a closure and prevents the gaseous fluid from circulating through a controlling or pressure regulating valve. l urthermore it permits of tapping the upper and lower compartments of the tank 1 to provide for leading off the gas un der normal conditions to single distributing lines that may be utilized with the main line, on or oil.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a gas distributing system; the combination with the gaseous fluid supply pipe and the distributing main; of a tank having an upper compression chamber in direct communication with the distributing main, and a suction chamber 111 communication with the supply pipe, a rotary compressor or pump in connection through a by-pass, with the suction chamber and with the compression chamber, a pressure regulating valve, a by-pass in communication with one side of the valve, the compression chamber and the rotary compressor pump, another by-pass in communication with the other side of the valve and with the rotary pump or compressor at the side opposite the other connection and also in communication with the suction chamber, and an adjustable weight device connected with said valve whereby the tension on said valve may be regulated to suit predetermined conditions, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. In a gas distributing system; a receiver having an upper compression chamber and a lower suction chamber the former being in direct connection with the distributing main and the latter in direct connection with the gas supply pipe, a rotary,

pump mounted on the tank, a by-pass connecting the pump with the suction chamber, another by-pass that connects the pump with the compression chamber, the said pump when at rest forming a closure between the two by-passes, a by-pass around the rotary pump in connection with the other two by-passes, a valve in the last mentioned by-pass that opens when the pressure in the main increases to thereby form a circuit through the pump for the excess gas, another valved by-pass that connects the upper and lower chamber of the receiver and which when the rotary pump is at rest forms a passage for the direct discharge of the gas in the suction chamber to the discharging main.

3. In a. gas distributing system, a receiving tank having a suction chamber in direct connection with the gas supply pipe and a compression chamber in direct connection with the, distributing main, a rotary pump or compressor mounted on the tank having one end of its casing in communication with the compression chamber, and the other end of the casing in connection with the suction chamber, a by-pass around the pump, a pressure controlled valve in the said by-pass that opens as the pressure in the main increases to thereby form a continuous passage for the pump or compressor for the excess gaseous fluid, a valved by-pass connection between the upper and lower chambers of the receiver adapted for discharging low pressure gas from the receiver at the same time that the highpressure gas is dischargsure controlled valve in the said by-pass that opens as the pressure in the main increases to thereby form a continuous passage for the pump or compressor for the excess gaseous fluid, a supplemental distributing pipe, a valved by-pass in communication between the said pipe and the compression chamber of the receiver.

5. In a gas distributing system, a receiving tank having a suction chamber in direct connection with the gas supply pipe, and a compression chamber in direct connection with the distributing main, a rotary pump or compressor mounted on the tank having one end of its casing in communication with the compression chamber, and the other end of the casing in connection with the suction chamber, a by-pass around the pump, a-

pressure controlled valve in the said bypass that opens as the pressure in the main increases to thereby form a continuous passage for the pump or compressor for the excess fluid, a supplemental distributing pipe, a valved by-pass from the suction chamber to the said supplemental distributing pipe adapted for leading off the low pressure gas when the compression chamber and the pump are. cut out.

6. In a gas distributing system, the combination with a tank or reservoir having two distinct chambers, of a pump, a connection between said pump and each of said chambers, a by-pass connection around said pump, a controlling valve in said by-pass connection, a plurality of ducts connecting the two chambers of said tank, a check valve in each of said ducts, and a shut off valve in each of said ducts, a single pipe line connected with one of said ducts, and an outlet main in communication with one of said chambers, and an intake main in communication with the other of said chambers.

GUSTAVE F. SCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

B. E. GRAsER, J. A. MERTEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

